Book Review: Life, Death, and Bialys

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Life, Death, and Bialys     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Dylan Schaffer
Class/Genre:   Non-Fiction   AutoBiography
Bloomsbury, 2006, 272 pps.

Truly a wonderful book that should have something to appeal to most any reader but anyone who has lived in even a slightly dysfunctional family should be able to identify in some way.

Dylan’s father who left the family when Dylan was at a very young age invites Dylan to attend a one week baking school in New York. This would just be father and son learning to bake together. Dylan is shocked more than anything else but accepts the invitation because he knows his father Flip has terminal cancer and will probably be gone before the time for the cooking school

Flip fools him though and they spend a weekend in New York getting reacquainted. Dylan writes with humor and love and gives a marvelous insight into a father and son relationship that got off the track someplace.

Reading the book brings forth a whole range of emotions and for me some memories of things past. I also learned the difference between a bialys and a bagel.

Be sure and read the acknowledgments including the alternate titles Schaffer came up with for this book. But read the acknowledgments after you finish the book.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM